Washington: PSEKA, the International Coordinating Committee-Justice for Cyprus, has firmly urged the U.S. government against any efforts to reintegrate Turkey into the F-35 fighter jet program or to lift the CAATSA sanctions currently imposed on the country.
According to Cyprus News Agency, a meeting was held on Monday between PSEKA and the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Republican Senator Jim Risch. During this meeting, Senator Risch expressed his intent to prevent Turkey’s reentry into the F-35 program. PSEKA has emphasized that the F-35 should be reserved solely for America’s most dependable allies, citing Turkey’s history as an unreliable NATO member.
PSEKA is calling for support of the Hellenic American Leadership Council’s (HALC) letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The letter insists that any dialogue regarding the lifting of sanctions should first address Turkey’s behavior. It draws a historical analogy, stating that appeasement strategies have proven ineffective, referencing past political figures.
HALC’s letter to Secretary Rubio outlines concerns over reports that the Trump Administration is contemplating lifting CAATSA sanctions on Turkey and its potential reintegration into the F-35 program. This is despite Turkey’s ongoing possession of Russian S-400 missile systems, which contradicts NATO norms and policies.
The letter further highlights Turkey’s violations, including threats to U.S. partners in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, where Turkish military overflights are frequent. It also points to Turkey’s ties with Hamas and actions against America’s Kurdish allies in Syria. In addition, the letter criticizes the Erdogan regime’s authoritarian practices domestically and calls for a clear and public message: lifting sanctions should be contingent upon Turkey’s removal of the S-400 systems and a demonstration of its reliability as an ally.